Compartmental washing machine



July 25, 1939. w. A. FRANTZ COMPARTMENTAL WASHING MACHINE Original Filed April 14, 1950 Walter A.Fr.a,ntz

ATTDRNEYS I of the detergent fluid in the tub. For the wash- Patented 25, 1939 P TEN orrieg 2,107,141 ooMrAnTMEn'rAL wasnmo MACHINE Walter A. menu, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, ,as-

signor. to. The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation or.

- Ohio Application April 1 4,- 1930, Serial No. 444,110

I Renewed'SeDtember 29, 1933 24 Claims.

This invention relates to washing machinesgenerally and in particular to washing machines adapted to provide a plurality of separate washing compartments which may be used selectively '-or simultaneously at the will of the operator.

' Prior to' my invention some of the more expensive washing machines provided means for regu- '-lating the speed and in some cases the stroke of the machine in order. to efliciently and safely wash diiferent kinds of articles, that is,' for rough and heavy work themachine would be run at a relatively high speed providing a strong agitation ing of fine silks and other fragile articles a less violent degree of agitation is desired in order to prevent tearing and undue wear on such articles when subject to the washing operation and when washing such articles the machine would be run at a slow speed or short stroke.

Washing machines of the type just described while providing a flexible machine capable of accomplishing the desired res'ults areobjectionable in that theyare relatively expensive and complicated, restricting their use and sale to the high price field of purchasers.

It is the object of this invention to combine in a single inexpensive washing machine a plurality of washing compartments adapted to be operated by a common means whereby the fluid in the individual compartmentsof the machine is agitated at different degrees of intensity and whereby at one and the same time difl'erent articles requiring difierent washing treatment may be washed at the same timesand whereby the different compartments may be used singly or together at the will of the operator and whereby separate and distinct detergent solutions may be carried in individual compartments of the machine for the separate washing of difierent classes of articles.

A further object. of this invention relates to certain improvements in method and apparatus 'for the washing of clothes whereby the clothes unfurled, flexed:and acted upon piece by piece and part by part durlngthewashing operation.

. action for their cleaning.

Stated in general terms, my invention consists in replacing the usual agitator member. of a washing machine with a hollow agitator, the interior of which is adapted to provide a separate washing I compartment and in which a 'difierent or the same detergent solution as carried in the tub may be used, the exterior of the agitator cooperating agitation of thecontents thereof.

1 The washing action within the agitator is less violent than the action in the tub and the in- 'terior of the agitator is particularly adapted for with the tub in the ordinary manner for the the tub may be used for the washing of heavier and coarser articles requiring a more violent With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists of the novel construction arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in some of its embodiments in the accompanying drawing and particularly pointed .out in the appended claims. I

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of a washing machine embodying my improved agitator. 4 Fig. 2 is a plan elevational view of a modified form of agitator adapted to replace the agitator shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the agitator shown in Fig. 2. Fig.4 is a plan elevational view 'of another form of agitator adapted to replace the agitatorshown. in Figs. .1 and 2, and Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the agitator shown in Fig. 4.

For the purpose of illustration I have shown my improved agitator in connection with a conven tionalgyrator.typewashing machine having a base I in which is'housed a suitable motor (not shown) I connected to gear mechanism within the case 3 by means of a belt 4. A tub 2 is supported on the base l of the machine above the gear case '3. A drive shaft having a splined head 6 projects through the bottom of the tub. This shaft is adapted to be driven by the motor through suitable gear mechanism in the case 3with an alternating rotating movement as is customary.

The'shaft and head 6 are adapted'to detachably support and drive through the cooperating element if an agitating member 5 which in the present case comprises a cylindrical hollow member havingbaflled plates 1 located in the bottom -thereof and vertically disposed ballie plates 8 located exteriorly thereof. A cover, 9 having'a ti n. The interior ,oi'jthe element! is"ada'pted,t'o be used for the washing of small and fragile articles provide a means for the agitation of the liquid,

and the space between the agitator 5 and the tub 2 is adapted for the washing of heavier and less fragile articles. -By reason'of'the'construc washed from working beneath the inner container and beeoming'tangled and torn, as would probtion shown agitation within thecontainerj is relatively gentle as compared witlr'theits tatio'nproduced in the annular space defined bythe tub 2 and the container 5.

Furthermore; it is to be noted that detergent fluids of different strength may be readily used in-the difieren't compartments so that it is possible and two different washing-actions are s'ufllcient' to take care of most any article to be washed The modified forms of agitator shown in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive are provided with containers of irregular outline so that the side walls of the container take the place of the agitating members or baiiles I and 8 of the device shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. and 3 wherein is shown a container having a base plate ll supporting an irregularly shaped container with inner and outer notched edges l3 and I8 which are adapted to i? the tub as well as that within the container i self.

During the washing operation of this form of agitator the notched walls of the container, due to their ratchet-like configuration, serve to move theclothes and liquid outside the container continuously in a clockwise direction while at the same time moving the clothes and liquid inside the container continuously in a counterclockwise direction. By reason of this mode of operation, all of the articles being washed both inside and outside the container'are subjected successively and repeatedly to the washing action of the notched edges 1 I and l I.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 a plate l'l similar to the plate H of Fig. 2 is used. In this modification the contour of the container is slightly different the wall I! being shaped to provide 4 blades l6 which function during the operation of the device to agitate the liquid of the tub as well asthe fluid contents of the container.

. From the foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided a single tub washing machine hav- .ing aplurality'of compartments adapted to provide for the washing of diiierent kinds of articles .ing action consists primarily in rubbing and scrubbing the clothes; In place of corrugated rubbing and scrubbing surfaces of the type shown -in Lockh'art Patent No. 311,133, the agitating devices in the present invention exhibit liquid impelling surfaces of substantial size which are circumferentially spaced apart from each other a susbtantial distance so as to act upon separate and distinct portions of the contents of the compartment and vigorously agitate the same during the operation of the machine.

The bottom of the inner container is located closely adjacent to the bottom of the outer container or"tub*so"as-to prevent the articles being ably be.the case if one were to attemptto use a churn of the type shown in Truitt et .al. Patent No, 1,737,265 for the washing of clothes.

If desired the complete washing operation may "be done inthe removable container 5 as where the articles to be washed are few in number or are of such kind as tovrequire the gentler action of this device. In such c'ase'it is not necessary to fill or empty the relatively large tub 2.

Due to thesmall size of the container. 5 it may be readily removed from or replaced in the tub 5, further facilitating the washing operation and permitting at the s'a'metime the use of cleaning fluidssuch as gasoline and naphtha which would be dangerous to use 'in the open tub 2. When used for dry cleaning purposes the'articles to be cleaned and fluid are placed in the container in some safe place such as out of doors and the cover 9 securely fastened in place. The container 5 is then carried to and placed in the washing machine where it may be agitated for the desired length of time and then bodily carried to a safe place for the removal of the cleansing same manner as the more usual form of blade 8' carried by the container 5.

In the operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, when the container is moved counterclockwise, the liquid adjacent to the notches is given a spiral motion in a horizontal plane and thrown outwardly at the same time and when the device is rotated in a. reverse direction, the clothes are sucked inwardly behind the blade formed between the notches l3and lit with a reverse spiral motion to that just mentioned. During successive operations of the device, clothing and liquid move in a well-defined path about the vat in one general circulatory direction with an intermittent retardation for each counter,- clockwise movement of the agitator and as,the clothes are worked upon in this manner, they are separated, unfurled and flexed as they come into the zone of action of the agitating surfaces of the device and in this manner a, uniform and thorough washing action is secured which may be for washing. purposes from the top liquid level to the bottom of the vat or tub and in the device referred to as individual action on the clothesv as distinguished from collective action in which are presented for purposes of explanation and shown iii-Figs. 2 and 3 they define channels extending downwardly from the top surface of the liquid toward the bottom of the vat.

While I-have'shown my improved washing 'device in connection with a gyrator type washer to which typepf machine it is particularly adapted,

it is apparent that such device could be readily adapted to other types of washing machines.

Furthermore it is 'to.be understood that the particular forms of apparatus shown and de-- scribed and the particular procedure set forth that various modifications 'ofsaid aparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as described in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is: a i 1. A clothes washing machine comprising a tub, operating mechanism including a vertically disposed oscillatable shaft projecting through the bottom of said tub, means for driving said mechanism-and a container having a socket in its bottom adapted to receive the upper end ofsaid shaft in supporting and operating relation, the interior of said container constituting a small capacity washer, and the walls of said container being spaced from thewall of saidtub to define an external larger capacity washer, and agitator elements both inside and .outside said container and formed as a part of 'saidcontainer whereby the liquid contents of the respective washers are agitated upon the oscillation of said container by said shaft.

2. An oscillatable agitator for-washing ma-- chines which is itself made hollow to constitute a second container having internal vanes forthe agitation of the liquid contents thereof and having external vanes on the side walls thereof for agitating the liquid and fabric contents surround-' ing the same in the washing machine wherein it is used, said agitator having a socket' for ,attachment' to an operating shaft and the side wall of said agitator being imperfor'a'te.

3, A clothes washing machine comprising a tub, an agitator therein mounted for movement about a vertical axis, said agitator being formed I with walls defining an open cell within the same and having liquid agitating. provisions exteriorly thereof, agitating provisions "inside the cell of said agitator, and means for actuating said agitator and with it said agitating provisions with a reverselyrotary movement.

4. In a washing machine, a tub, a shaft in said tub, an agitator mounted on said shaft, operating means for imparting movementto said shaft and agitator, sa'id'agitator having a sinuous upstand ing wall free of abrasive corners and providing a liquid chamber and agitating surfaces, and

- means closing said liquid chamber.

5...In a washing machine, a tub, a shaft in said tub an oscillator .including a sleeve disposed about "said shaft and supporting said oscillator in said tub, said. sleeve including an outwardly i-lared portion at the lower end thereof, a sinuous wall extending upwardly fromsaidoutwardly flared portion in spaced relation with said sleeve 'and providing a liquid chamber on said oscillator and liquid agitating surfaces, and operating means for imparting movement to said shaft and oscillator. a

6. In a washing machine, a tub, a shaft in said tub, an oscillator including a sleeve disposed about said shaft and supporting said oscillator in said tub, said sleeve including anoutwardly flared portion at the lower end thereof, a sinuous wall extending upwardly from said outwardly flared portion in spaced relation with said sleeve and providing a liquid chamber 'on said oscillator and formed of alternate ribs and pockets extending susbtantially parallel with the wailof the tub and providing liquid agitating surfaces, and means for imparting movement tosaid shaft and oscillator. i

'7. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to receivev liquid and a batch of clothes, an agitator in the tub mounted for movement about a vertical axis and having a chamber also adapted to receive liquid and a batch of clothes, the side wall of said chamber including means for agitating the contents of the tub and the contents of the.

chamber coniointly or selectively, -'dependent upon whether there is liquid in the chamber or the tub or both, and means for operating said agitator.

'8. In a washing machine,a tub adapted to receive'liquid and a'batch of clothes, an agitator in the tub and including a bottom and' a wall extending upward from said bottom and providing a cleansing. chamber also adapted to receive liquid and a batch of clothes, said wall having exterior and interior protuberances to agitate thecontents of the tub and the contents of the chamber conjointly or selectively, dependent upon whether there is liquid in the chamber or the tub orboth, and means for operating said agitator.

receive liquid and a batch of clothes, an agitator mounted in the tub for movement about a vertical axis and having a chamber also adapted to receive liquid and a batch of clothes, the side wall of said chamber including exterior and interior rounded corners and pockets to agitate the con-- tents of the tub and the contents of the chamber conjointly or selectively, dependent upon whether there is liquid in the chamber or the tub or both,

and means for operating said agitator.

11. In a washing machine, a tub adapted to receive liquid and abatchof clothes. an agitator in the tub and including a bottom and a sinuous wall extending .upwardly from said bottom and providing a cleansing chamber also adapted to receive liquid and a batch of clothes, said sinuous wall being adapted to agitate the contents of the tub and the contents of the chamber con-' jointly or selectively, dependent upon whether there is liquid in the chamber or the tub or both; means for preventing the liquid from splashing out of the chamber, and means for operating said agitator.

12. In a washing machine, a tub, a shaft in operating means for imparting movement to said 9. In a'washing machine, a tub adapted to receive liquid and a batch of clothes, an agitator mounted in the tub for movement about a vertical said tub, an agitator mounted on said shaft, and

shaft and agitator, said agitator having a sinuous upstanding wall'free of abrasive corners and providing a liquid chamber and agitating surfaces.

13. In a clothes washing machine, a tub, an

. element niovably mounted on a vertical axis in said tub for dividing the same into different washing compartments,'means for agitating liquid and articles to be washed in such conipartments at relatively different intensities, and mechanism for operating said last-named means.

14. In a washing machine, a tub for detergent. liquid and articles to be washed, a hollow agitator in said tube dividing the same into two different washing zones, one inside the agitator and the other surrounding the same, and means for 05- cillating said agitator about a vertical axis, said agitator having interior and exterior agitating provisions adapted for imparting different degrees of agitation to the liquid inside the agitator and the liquid surrounding the same.

to the liquid inside said agitator.

16. In a washing machine, a tub for containing detergent liquid and articles to be washed, a shaft projecting through the bottom of said tub, means for oscillating said shaft, and a container for clothes and liquid having a bottom with an up-- wardly projecting dome fixed therewith and defining a socket for the reception of the end of said shaft inside said tub, said container having liquid agitating provisions exteriorly and interiorly thereof and said shaft and socket having non-circular complementary sides whereby the shaft forms a detachable driving connection with said socket.

17. In a clothes washing machine, a tub for containing detergent liquid and articles to be washed, a hollow agitator extending upwardly from the bottom of said tub and itself adapted forthe reception of detergent liquid andarticles to be washed, and means for oscillating said agitator about a vertical axis, said agitator having interior and exterior liquid impelling surfaces adapted to agitate the liquid in the agitator and in the tub while at the same time continuously moving such liquid circularly about the axis of oscillation of said agitator.

18. In a clothes washing machine, a tub for containnig detergent liquid and articles to be washed, a hollow agitator extending upwardly from the bottom of said tub and itself adapted for the reception of detergent liquid and articles to be washed, and means for oscillating said agitator about a vertical axis, said agitator having interior and exterior liquid impelling surfaces inclined with respect to the instantaneous direc tion of their movement so as to agitate the liquid in the agitator and in the tub while at the same time continuously moving the liquid inside and outside the agitator circularly about the axis of oscillation thereof and in different directions.

19. A single tub clothes washing machine comprising, an outer tub and associated means in the tub defining therewith a plurality of washing compartments located one inside the other and adapted for the simultaneous reception and agitation of detergent fluid and two different batches of clothing, shaft means operable about a vertical axis, agitating elements connected to said shaft means and located in the compartments of said tub extending upwardly from a position closely adjacent to the bottom thereof so as to prevent the entry of clothing therebeneath for effecting the simultaneous agitation of the contents of said compartments, and operating means for said shaft means.

20. A clothes washing machine comprising, cas-'- ing means defining a plurality bf'washing coinpartments located one inside the other and adapted for the simultaneous reception of vdifferent batches of clothing and different detergent fluids, means operable about a vertical axis including a shaft and agitating elements in the compartments of said casing means extending upwardly from a position closely adjacent to the bottom thereof so as to prevent the entry of clothing therebeneath for effecting the to-and-fro excitation of the contents of both said compartments, and mechanism for oscillating said shaft.

ent batches of clothing and detergent fluid, wash- I ing means operable about a vertical axis comprisk ing a shaft and agitating elements in the compartments of said casing means for effecting the to-and-fro excitation of the contents of said compartments at different intensities, and operating means for said shaft.

22. A washing machine comprising a tub adapted for the reception of'a detergent liquid and fabric articles to be washed, operating mechanism outside said tub; substantially vertically disposed shaft means associated with said mechanism extending through a wall of said tub and driven by said mechanism, wall member's spaced inwardly from the tub side walls defininga compartment inside said tub, and liquid impelling elements inside said compartment and in the space between said wall-members and the side walls of said tub operably connected to said shaft means.

23. A single tub clothes washing machine comprising a tub having a plurality of washing compartments one inside the other and adapted for the simultaneous reception of articles of clothing and detergent fluid, washing means operable about a vertical axis comprising a single operating element located inside said tub and defining the inner compartment of said tub, said element having agitating surfaces in contact with and for simultaneously effecting the to-and-fro excitation of the contents of both said compartments, and operating means for said washing means.

24. A clothes washing machine having a plu -\rality of washing compartments comprising a liquid holding tub, a clothes container of materially smaller size extending upwardly from the bottom of said tub whereby separate .washing compartments are defined by the space within said container and by the space between the side- Y 

